The aivancity Observatory has been designated an official partner of the Paris AI Summit 2025

A unique opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses

Among the many featured side events, the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) is hosting a must-attend event on February 11, 2025. Despite their overwhelming economic weight—accounting for 99% of Paris’s economic fabric—only 3% of microbusinesses, SMEs, and retailers regularly use generative AI. This event therefore aims to reverse this trend by presenting concrete solutions and opportunities to seize.

Soumia Malinbaum, President of the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasizes: "The goal is to turn artificial intelligence into a true partner... By taking full advantage of its potential, entrepreneurs can free themselves from repetitive, time-consuming tasks to focus on high-value-added work and devote more time to strategy."

A unique opportunity for small and medium-sized businesses

aivancity School of AI & Data for Business & Society will present its barometer of responsible artificial intelligence (AI) practices. The study, conducted among 400 executives of French SMEs (20 to 500 employees), representing 65% of jobs in France, reveals the perceptions, needs, and challenges related to the development and implementation of AI in French companies.

The primary purpose of this observatory is to identify attitudes of support or concern regarding the development of artificial intelligence in businesses and society, to identify the stakeholders affected by these developments, to understand the skills needs and expectations required to support this transformation, and to assess the level of readiness among various stakeholders regarding the responsible development of AI.

Key findings of the study

Definition of AI

• Only 25% of respondents associate AI with simulating human intelligence. The majority refer to task automation or specific applications such as prediction and optimization.

Low rate of AI adoption

• Despite a slight increase since 2021, only 15% of the SMEs surveyed have implemented AI solutions. This figure remains low compared to adoption rates in other countries, such as India (59%) and Singapore (53%).

Wide range of applications

• The use of AI spans about ten sectors, with manufacturing leading the way. However, many executives still have a vague understanding of its potential applications.

Ethics and AI

• 31% of the executives surveyed view the ethical issues surrounding AI as a priority, particularly privacy, which was cited by 42% of respondents.

The impact on performance

• 64% of executives view AI as a driver of performance, up from 41% in 2021. The emergence of generative AI has played a key role in this shift in perception.

Tawhid Chtioui, President and Dean of aivancity, states: " It is crucial to continue raising awareness among SME leaders about the benefits and risks of AI to ensure ethical and responsible technological development, while enabling their businesses to remain competitive on the global stage."

By making AI accessible to small and medium-sized businesses, the Paris Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI Paris) and aivancity are reaffirming their commitment to making AI a driver of inclusive and sustainable growth.